Husband critically injures wife, kills himself in Holladay

HOLLADAY— A woman was in critical condition and her estranged husband dead Monday night after an apparent domestic dispute turned violent.

Carrie McClure, 42, and her 8-year-old daughter were driving away from her parents' home about 6:30 p.m. Monday when her husband, Garth McClure, 46, appeared and tried to force her off the road with his car near 2110 E. Murray-Holladay Road, according to Salt Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Paul Jaroscak.

"They've had problems in the past," he said.

Nearly three years ago, Garth McClure was charged with assaulting his wife and kidnaping her and taking her to another county to hide her injuries, Jaroscak said. He was later convicted of aggravated assault, but a felony kidnapping charge was dismissed.

After he ran her car off the road Monday, Garth McClure got out of his car and pounded on the window of his wife's car. He then fired three shots at her through the glass, Jaroscak said. She was flown to the University of Utah Hospital in critical condition.

After shooting his wife, McClure then turned the gun on himself and was later pronounced dead, Jaroscak said.

Several people witnessed the incident, including the couple's daughter, who is believed to have initially notified police.

Casey Snow, 17, was talking to his grandmother on the side of the road when he heard "popping" noises.

"I saw a man holding his stomach, heard another pop and saw him fall flat on his back," he said. "I wasn't sure if it was real. It was like a shot in a movie."

Snow said it all seemed normal until police responded to the scene.

"This is the last place you'd expect something like this to happen," Snow said.

Jaroscak said Carrie McClure acted appropriately in the situation.

"To our knowledge, she had done everything she could have done to protect herself," Jaroscak said. "We don't know if he was stalking her, following her or how he knew to contact her."

Carrie McClure had an active restraining order against her husband and had filed a domestic rape complaint against him, Jaroscak said. Police were preparing to serve the arrest warrant on charges of rape, forcible sex abuse and simple assault that were filed in 3rd District Court three days ago. It is unknown if Garth McClure was aware of the charges at the time of the shooting, Jaroscak said.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred nearly three weeks ago at the couple's residence.

"At that time, the son had heard his mom in distress and called police," Jaroscak said.

When police arrived, the husband ran and was captured, booked into jail and was bailed out the following day. It is believed his attorney had been notified of the forthcoming charges.

"When it gets violent like this, it is dangerous to let it continue," Jaroscak said.

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com